Sierra Nevada Historic Pre Christmas Snow Event

[srainhoutx]

HPC:

...WEST...

AN ONSLAUGHT OF HEAVY OROGRAPHIC SNOW IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT A GOOD
PORTION OF THE WESTERN STATES THIS FCST PERIOD... BASICALLY FROM
SAT THROUGH MON. A LARGE AND SLOW MOVING CIRCULATION OVER THE
NRN/NERN PAC WILL STEER A SERIES OF PAC DISTURBANCES AND ANOMALOUS
DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE INTO CA AND PROCEED/TRANSPORT DOWNSTREAM
THROUGH THE INTER-MOUNTAIN WEST. THE RESULTANT WILL BE A
TREMENDOUS DEVELOPING SNOW-PACK FROM THE SIERRA/NRN CA MTNS AND OR
CASCADES THROUGH MUCH OF THE INTERIOR WRN TERRAIN.

A VERY ACTIVE AND PERSISTENT WSWRLY TO NERLY 250 MB UPPER JET OF
150 KTS WILL STEER THESE IMPULSES INTO THE WEST... WHILE 00Z GFS
MOISTURE FLUX ANOMALIES ARE OFF THE CHARTS... BASICALLY 4 TO 5
TIMES ABOVE AVG. THE COMBINATION OF THE STRONG FORCING...
IMPRESSIVE AVAILABLE PAC/TROPICAL MOISTURE TRANSPORT AND
BROAD/ENHANCED UPPER DIVERGENCE WILL LIKELY PUMMEL THE TERRAIN
WITH MORE FEET THAN SINGLE INCHES OF SNOW.

ON SAT... A GENERAL AND BROAD ONSHORE COMPONENT WILL BE IN PLACE
FROM OR SOUTH DOWN THE CA COASTLINE. THIS UNIFORM FLOW SHOULD
ENHANCE ACCUMULATIONS FROM THE OR CASCADES/NRN CA MTNS AND SIERRA
INTO THE SAWTOOTH OF ID/NRN AND CENTRAL WASATCH AND CO ROCKIES. A
MORE SIGNIFICANT SHORT WAVE ON SUN WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE
UPPER TROUGH AND GLIDE INTO NRN/CENTRAL CA. THE LOWERING OF
HEIGHTS AND MORE SWRLY TRAJECTORY SHOULD BE IDEAL FOR VERY HEAVY
SNOW ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE NRN CA MTNS AND SIERRA INTO THE NRN
WASATCH/UINTAS. FINALLY ON MON... HEIGHTS CONTINUE TO DIG DOWN THE
WEST COAST DIRECTING THE DEEP MOISTURE THROUGH CA INTO THE ENTIRE
WASATCH/CO ROCKIES. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE...EXPECT THE CA
SIERRA TO SEE 4 TO 8 FEET... IF NOT MORE... OF SNOW OVER THE THREE
DAY FCST PERIOD...WHICH COULD VERY WELL BE HISTORIC.

[Aquawind]

Kirkwood ski area webcam and you can click on the forecast information.. Some Serious snows for the next week!

http://www.kirkwood.com/site/mountain/webcam

[bob rulz]

Absolutely insane totals expected for the Sierra Nevada, that's for sure! This is a classic Pineapple Express pattern. The Wasatch Mountains will see 1-3 feet through Monday, likely much more through the rest of the week - unfortunately that is far from historic.

[vbhoutex]

Mammoth Mountain is at 9 feet so far for this storm.

[srainhoutx]

Although the original title covered the snow aspect, rain has become a major issue in Southern California and lower elevations further N. The pattern has not let up as well. Title has been edited.

[Stephanie]

Well, I'm glad that the snow pack is building for the West's water needs right now. I just hope that there's not a huge, quick warmup come spring that will produce flooding. That's totally amazing!